THE ENVELOPE PLEASE …

and Motorcycle.com StaffPhotos by: Brian BladesVideo by: Jay McNally

Our hats are all off to the geniuses at Yamaha who built this thing. It’ll run right with the curve-slaying $8,999 KTM Duke up and down our favorite roads, then deliver you home with nearly the comfort of the practical-shoes Honda NC700X, for considerably less money than either of them.

We believe the Duke’s a great stable pony for the well-heeled enthusiast who has another bike or three in the garage more suited to the everyday slog. But if money is an object, and you’ve got to pick one bike to do it all, you really can’t do better than Yamaha’s new FZ-07, a motorcycle that can’t decide if it’s a sportbike, eco-commuter, naked hooligan or standard? You will not go wrong with the FZ-07 or the 690 Duke, our two favorite bikes in our favorite class. This week.

The 645cc-plus Twins (SFV, Ninja, FZ) eke out similar peak numbers, but it’s the Yamaha’s 689cc powerplant that pulls hardest, longest. Amazing that KTM’s 690cc motor pulls so strong from just one lung. Note how it spins 2000 rpm higher than the twin-cylinder 670cc NC700X. The CB500F feels far more frisky than the chart indicates.

The FZ-07’s torque curve is the cream of this crop, with the broadest swathe of strong power. The KTM puts up a slightly bigger number, but note the curve’s jagged quality and how it wouldn’t smoothly accept throttle below 3000 rpm. The NC700X delivers immediate power but signs off disappointingly early. With just 471cc to work with, the CB500’s numbers are small, but its incredibly flat torque curve yields whatever juice it has whenever its needed.

2014 Middleweight Mash-Up Six-Way Shootout

Category

Honda CB500F

Honda NC700X

Kawasaki Ninja 650

KTM 690 Duke

Suzuki SFV650

Yamaha FZ-07

Price

100%

74.4%

76.3%

52.3%

71.2%

73.0%

Weight

86.1%

75.8%

77.4%

100%

80.2%

89.3%

lb/hp

59.7%

58.0%

80.6%

100%

86.6%

96.7%

lb/lb-ft

53.5%

67.5%

72.6%

100%

76.2%

89.2%

Engine

73.3%

60.4%

81.0%

87.5%

89.0%

93.1%

Transmission/Clutch

85.0%

85.4%

82.5%

82.1%

87.1%

91.3%

Handling

83.8%

69.6%

75.4%

94.6%

85.4%

88.3%

Brakes

74.2%

73.8%

79.6%

92.1%

80.0%

88.3%

Suspension

72.5%

79.2%

79.2%

94.2%

77.1%

81.7%

Technologies

61.3%

68.3%

66.7%

71.7%

60.0%

70.0%

Instruments

74.2%

73.8%

74.6%

70.8%

72.9%

89.6%

Ergonomics/Comfort

80.4%

85.8%

70.4%

86.7%

78.3%

87.9%

Quality

75.8%

78.3%

70.0%

89.2%

75.8%

80.8%

Cool Factor

68.3%

66.7%

68.8%

90.4%

66.7%

88.8%

Grin Factor

70.8%

62.5%

72.9%

93.3%

80.8%

88.3%

Overall Score

75.7%

71.8%

75.5%

86.2%

78.3%

86.4%

Price and weight are scored based on objective metrics. Other scores are listed as a percentage of editors’ ratings in each category. The Engine category is double-weighted, so the Overall Score is not a total of the displayed percentages but, rather, a percentage of the weighted aggregate raw score.

Actually the ad revenue for video triggers on starts, so MO gets the cut either way. The lame part is that the advertiser is allowed a 30 second play for the money and people are either forced to watch it, or pause it.

The user experience in most new forms (see: video) advertising is quite poor and will eventually adapt to user feedback as time goes on, but much like commercials on TV, we’re going to have to watch them if we want the programming for awhile longer.

BTW, the FZ was an easy pick without even reading the article. Surprised the buzziness of the highstrung KTM wasn’t talked about more. It’s a fantastic bike, but is obnoxious droning on a freeway.

jerry mander

Perfect time to go grab some Doritos!

Auphliam

Pet Peave Alert: Why does the Ninja dash have to say “Clock” right above the time display? There’s not some other kind of moto-related data displayed in hours/minutes, amirite?

dustysquito .

While the Ninja’s dash doesn’t have anything else that would look like a clock but not be one, my bike has Ride Time, Accumulated Ride Time, and Lap Timer functions built into the dash as well as a clock, so having it remind you which one you’re on is handy.

Auphliam

Ah, good point.

‘Mike Smith

Great comparison guys. The only thing I wish y’all would do is some drag racing on these things. Quarter mile times, 0-60, 0-100 times would be as appreciated as any other stats already listed.

sundogmtn

I like your format on the videos of open discussion which help cover almost every possible aspect. It will help sell bikes. What I find missing to help the individual buyer is what consumer groups have provided for decades, reliability ratings. If you are a new rider you likely won’t be doing your own mechanical work and that would be very expensive these days.

George Herbert

Its to bad the US gets screwed on the NC700/750 platform. even here in Canada we get the X and S versions, ABS standard without the auto trans.

denchung

Honda Canada also introduced the 750 engine with the 2014 model year while the US is still using the 700.

Goose

And you can get the NC750 with ABS without the DCT and without the stupid linked ABS found on the 700. The NC750 would still have finished last in this test but Honda has lost a sure NC750 sale (me) with this idiotic embargo on the improved NC.

One other thing, the 750 isn’t just a bigger engine, the new bike is better in nearly every way. Besides the bigger motor and ABS without the DCT you also get an improved transmission, better instruments, improved seat, second balance shaft, etc. for a few hundred dollars more. I’ve read Honda’s logic is the 750 will cost more. That didn’t seem to bother them when they raised the price of the 700 by $800 without making any improvements. They’ve about driven this customer away.

American Honda is a little bit stupid sometimes. And then sometimes they do the right thing, like bringing the VFR800/Interceptor to the US. How well did that sell?

Goose

Honda marketing slogan “Preventing sales since 1963”.

One other thing, the 750 isn’t just a bigger engine, the new bike is better in nearly every way. Besides the bigger motor and ABS without the DCT you also get an improved transmission, better instruments, improved seat, second balance shaft, etc. for a few hundred dollars more. I’ve read Honda’s logic is the 750 will cost more. That didn’t seem to bother them when they raised the price of the 700 by $800 without making any improvements. They’ve about driven this customer away.

DickRuble

Who in the riding group weighs 270lbs? Needs to trade the motorcycle for a bicycle and the doritos for some soy beans.

So I don’t see your picture up there. I was 360 pounds for a long time but I rode anyway. Reasons aren’t important, Your bigotry is not acceptable. Tried everything to lose weight. Gastric Bypass finally allowed me to lose 130 pounds and keep it off but some can’t even do that. It’s not always the person’s fault. Depression era parents who force you to eat everything on your plate gives you a pretty permanent eating habit. I’m GLAD they have someone on there who can give a perspective from a heavier person.

Kenneth

Thanks for the thoughtful and comprehensive review, MO, of widely-appealing bikes for the cost-conscious (I will be new bike shopping next spring). The only missing ingredient for me is — not here yet: The new Versys 650. ‘Anxiously awaiting that coming review. By the way, I appreciate a straight-on, side-view photo of each tested bike with a normally-sized rider mounted, to see its ergonomics.

DickRuble

Normally-sized? Where? I didn’t see any of those..

Old MOron

After all the excitement of Intermot, I was kind of having withdrawals.
MO comes through in MO style! – fluttering mutton chops, tender buttocks, and all.
Highly informative and very entertaining at the same time. Well done, MO.
I can’t wait to see these bikes at the Long Beach show.

Reid

The FZ-07 is unquestionably the best bike in the test, given the price. The Duke is just too expensive. If its pricing were in-line with the FZ (even FZ-09, for that matter), I strongly believe it would win this test.

DickRuble

though the Duke is what I’d rather ride in town…

Reid

The Duke is an exceptionally good bike. I bought one. It wasn’t cheap though lol

DickRuble

Post a picture..

BTRDAYZ

Congrats to the Duke 690 for it’s runner up finish. It’s my favorite bike of the group because KTM extracted maximum power from a single cylinder. Also, it’s the most expensive, but it has the most attractive frame. So much so that KTM doesn’t resort to the cheesy trick of trying to hide the frame beneath plastic molded to look like an alloy frame (God, I hate that!!!).

Hope you bring back the Duke and FZ to test alongside the Ducati Scrambler when it arrives!

Andrew Capone

I really want a lusty thumper in the fleet, and the Duke is the obvious choice. I’d have to repaint the thing, KTM psychedelia doesn’t do it for me. But I really dig that thing.

Luke

Even thought I’m not as heavy, I appreciate the comments from the bigger guy in the field. It might be a good idea to list the height weight of all the reviewers. I’m 200lbs, and 6’1″ and I sometimes feel like most motorcycle reviewers are a good 5 inches shorter and 50lbs. lighter.

Ditto. I’m 6′, 240lbs WITHOUT gear. Seems like many reviewers are light/thin and height-challenged? Is that the right way to say that? I dunno.

Chris_in_Kalifornia

I wish I was 6′ and 240. I’m 5’6″ 240 also without gear. And I lost a bunch too. Loved my 04 Vstrom. I’d rather have a brand new 04 Vstrom than any of these.

Old MOron

Okay, I finally watched the video. Well done, gents.

Backroad Bob

“even the losers are winners”. Sounds like the New America. JB, you’re a classic. More, please.

Paul Cypert

As an aside dealerships were practically giving last year’s Dukes away. Around 6K OTD was not unheard of….

Chris_in_Kalifornia

What the NC700 needs is a supercharger. Hmm. I wonder if a big smog pump off a late 70’s luxury barge would work…

I saw a supercharged GL1200 Honda a long time ago, built by a machinist. Looked stock, wickedly fast.

DCGULL01

This just validates my theory that the FZ-07 is the everything bike for everyman (and woman!). I love the comparison though- it really shows how choppy this market segment is- proving that every manufacturer is aiming for a slice-rather than the whole pie! Like Suzuki’s SV- Yamaha’s FZ-07 will still be in the hunt in over 10 years, when the current crop is tested again. Middle-aged buyers (silent majority that have/spend money) have been ignored until the “lil’ Yamaha that could”, but, now we can do what we do: do our own services, and- tinker with accessories, like we love too. This will change, highlight- elevate this segment- and, all manufacturers will want some- so, our world is going to get better and better for the next few years!

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